The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Apr. 08, 2014
Filed:
Nov. 25, 2012
Rick Tabor, Glenview, IL (US);
Brian K. Mirous, Evanston, IL (US);
Timothy L. Lambert, Lindenhurst, IL (US);
Michael E. O'brien, Hianesville, IL (US);
Matthew I. Levinson, Skokie, IL (US);
Daniel J. Dershowitz, Columbus, OH (US);
Rick Tabor, Glenview, IL (US);
Brian K. Mirous, Evanston, IL (US);
Timothy L. Lambert, Lindenhurst, IL (US);
Michael E. O'Brien, Hianesville, IL (US);
Matthew I. Levinson, Skokie, IL (US);
Daniel J. Dershowitz, Columbus, OH (US);
Stepan Company, Northfield, IL (US);
Abstract
A process for making bis(aryloxyalkyl)terephthalates useful as antiplasticizers for thermoplastic polyesters is disclosed. Dimethyl terephthalate is reacted with an excess of an aryloxyalkanol in the presence of a condensation catalyst to produce an intermediate mixture comprising a bis(aryloxyalkyl)terephthalate, a mono(aryloxyalkyl)terephthalate, and unreacted aryloxyalkanol. This mixture continues to react at reduced pressure while unreacted aryloxyalkanol is removed and the mono-ester content is reduced to less than 1 mole % based on the combined amounts of mono- and bis-esters. Both steps are performed substantially in the absence of oxygen. Additional unreacted aryloxyalkanol is then removed to provide a purified bis(aryloxyalkyl)terephthalate having an overall purity of at least 98 mole % and a yellowness index less than 10. Careful control over catalysis, exposure to air, and other process conditions enables the preparation of high yields of bis(aryloxyalkyl)terephthalates that have low color and other valuable attributes. A method of producing bis(aryloxyalkyl)terephthalate articles having improved compressive strength is also disclosed.